Visiting Costa Rica

 

    Managing differences I chose to study Costa Rica this semester because I plan to visit in October 2024. A good friend has moved there, and I will stay with her. Visiting for one or two weeks will be easy, but only because of my friend who has been there for a year. Spending a week or two would be difficult if I planned to go alone without anyone to support me. If I spoke the language, it would be easier. However, I need to learn about the culture to avoid possible problems.  Living in Costa Rica for a year or more without any support would require careful planning. I would make sure I could speak the language fluently. Having the ability to communicate in another country would be one of the most important things for me. Some challenges I could face include a time of culture shock when I first arrive, as I have not experienced this culture. Things like finding a place to live, where to shop for groceries, local places I would frequent, and finding a job would be easier if I sp

    Education in Costa Rica The education system in Costa Rica is accessible to all students and includes public elementary and high schools in every community. Elementary school is six years. High school includes three years of general education and two to three years of specialized training. Students then receive a title in arts and sciences or a Costa Rican Bachillerato Diploma, which the Costa Rican Ministry of Education accredits. Some private schools are also available to Costa Rican students.  (CostaRica.com, 2023)  Costa Rica also provides preschool education for all children under five. They are leading the way in providing early childhood development and pre-primary education. Children under five must attend. They realize that providing this education to young children benefits the entire community, as more and more countries are learning that early education will benefit the economies if they can educate young children earlier. Early education is beneficial because a y

Healthcare in Costa Rica The healthcare belief system in Costa Rica In the past, Costa Ricans believed sickness could be healed with medicinal plants, rituals, and unrealistic practices. Nowadays, we still see these practices in some parts of the world. However, Costa Rica has been improving its approach to treating illnesses and is a leader in Central America in adopting good medical practices.  (Ramírez, 2022)   In Costa Rica, rituals surrounding death are rooted in culture and religious beliefs. Death is treated with a deep sense of respect and dignity. Cultural beliefs and traditions play a significant role in how death is perceived. Many Costa Ricans are  Catholic , and religious rituals and prayers are important in the funeral process. The rituals of the funeral process include a wake where family and friends come to pay their respects. The funeral ceremony usually occurs in a church, followed by a time of mourning. Family members wear black during mourning and do not par

  Business Contexts Business protocols and practices in Costa Rica are friendly and relaxed. Humility and patience are also highly valued. Building strong relationships and personal connections are critical to engaging in business dealings. Some common business greetings include handshakes and kisses on the cheek.   Common/expected business greeting behaviors:  It is customary in business settings to offer a handshake when greeting someone. A kiss on the cheek may be exchanged in a more formal situation. Maintaining eye contact and using formal titles are also expected.  Appropriate initial conversation topics When meeting someone in a business setting for the first time, the conversation will generally be a time to get to know one another and build trust. Topics of conversation may include current affairs and discussion about the landscape of Costa Rica, the people, soccer, and politics.   Rules for personal/professional appearance: Costa Ricans dress well in professional or casual se

   Nonverbal messages Understanding the nonverbal language of any culture is an essential aspect of communication. Nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice can be very different from one culture to another. Misinterpreting nonverbal cues can cause misunderstandings and potential problems. Understanding these differences will help communicate more effectively with people from different cultures. Knowing these differences also shows respect for others and can help to avoid offending others. Some obstacles in understanding nonverbal messages include learning about each individual and their unique non-verbal expression. These cues can be difficult to understand. Bias can also be a potential obstacle to understanding nonverbal messages of another culture. (Go visit Costa Rica, 2023) Nonverbal messages can be communicated through body movement and posture. How someone sits or stands can give an idea about their current mood. How someone moves their arms

      The Official Language Of Costa Rica Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica. Brought to the country with the arrival of the Spanish, the language became prominent. Spanish is used in the government administration of the country, by the country's media, and the educational institutions of Costa Rica. (The World Factbook, 2021) According to Britannica, (Mufwene, 2023) Lingua franca is a language used between populations. The term was first used during the Middle Ages and was described as a French and Italian-based jargon or pidgin. Lingua franca can bring together very diverse groups. The use of the English language as a lingua franca will most definitely impact my ability to communicate effectively with the people from Costa Rica, as English is also a language that is widely spoken. (The World Factbook, 2021) Some common words translated to Spanish from English, and the pronunciation for each from Google Translator  (google translate, 2023) Hello!/

  Cultural History of Costa Rica                                                     1808 Coffee becomes the principal crop  Coffee production began in Costa Rica in the late 1800's. It became even more popular in the 1900s when the Costa Rican government started giving land to anyone who wanted to grow coffee. By around 1830, coffee had become the most successful crop in Costa Rica because of this incentive program. In my first post, I discussed the trip I will be taking in 2024 to Costa Rica. I will be staying on a piece of this land that was given to grow coffee, which has been handed down for generations. An estimated 10% of Costa Rican families make their living through coffee farming. (Brennan, 2023)                        1838 Costa Rica proclaims its sovereignty and independence  In 1838, Costa Rica became fully independent by severing ties with the other states that were part of the United Provence of Central America federation. Costa Ricans showed little interest in the m

 Worldview Communication between Cultures: A culture’s worldview is directly linked to how members of that culture perceive the world and live in that world.  (Samovar, 2017) The dominant worldview in Costa Rica is religious in nature. According to  WorldAtlas , the dominant worldview in Costa Rican culture is Christianity, specifically Catholicism, at 60-75% of the people claiming to be Catholic. (Velzer, 2022) Some key aspects of this worldview include the deep spiritual belief in Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and everlasting life. The cultural expressions of this worldview include fellowship with other members of the community in a church setting. The ethics of the culture include following the Ten Commandments and living a virtuous life. People value honesty, humility, and formality. The values of the culture are based on their religious beliefs. They believe that once they die, they will then be jud

Family Structure in Costa Rica Most families in Costa Rica have a multi-generational family structure, with the elderly living in the household or living nearby. Traditionally, Costa Rican families have been a traditional style, but over the last 30 years, this has changed. Single-parent families rose from 8.6% in the early 80's to 13.8% in 2011. Most of these single-parent families are led by women. The friend I will visit in 2024 living in Costa Rica is renting a home from a family that owns a multi-generational farm with all family members living on the same property. They all have their own home, but they are very close together. My friend tells me that the family she stays with are very close. They care for one another and the needs of the family as a whole. Child rearing has been chiefly the job of the woman in the family. Women include mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. They have been typically the parent that will stay home and care for the children. Y